My colleague Mike Allen gets hold of his official testimony, in which he speaks out against use of the word "illegal":

We dream of a path to citizenship so we can actively participate in our American democracy.

We dream of not being separated from our families and our loved ones, regardless of sexual orientation, no matter our skill set. This government has deported more than 1.6 million people — fathers and mothers, sons and daughters — in the past four years.

We dream of contributing to the country we call our home.

In 21st century America, diversity is destiny. That I speak Tagalog — my first language; that I happen to be gay; that I was born in the Philippines — none of that threatens my love for this country. In America, the richness of our diversity — how connected and integrated we are as Americans — makes us stronger.

Sitting behind me today is my Filipino-American family — my grandma Leonila, whom I love very much; my Aunt Aida Rivera, who helped raise me; and my Uncle Conrad Salinas, who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. They’re all naturalized American citizens.

I am the only one in my extended family of 25 Americans who is undocumented. When you inaccurately call me “illegal,” you’re not only dehumanizing me, you’re offending them. No human being is illegal.

Vargas also wrote an op-ed piece about his personal history for today's New York Times.